Wheeled chair.



F. M. WOLFF.

WHEELED CHAIR.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 17. 19W.

1,259,064. Patented Mar. 12', 1918.

aftoznea FAY M. WOLFE, 0F LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY.

WHEELED CHAIR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 12,1918.

Application filed October 17, 1917. Serial No. 197,099.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, FAY M. WoLFr, a citizen of the United States, residing at Louisville, in the county of Jefferson and State of Kentucky, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Wheeled Chairs, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to wheeled chairs, and more particularly to chairs of this kind which are self-propelled, the propelling means being a motor which is carried by the chair.

The invention has for its object to provide a novel and improved chair of the kind stated, characterized by a means for assisting the chair in crossing curbstones or gutters, and other uneven places.

The object stated is attained by means of a combination and arrangement of parts to be hereinafter described and claimed, and in order that the same may be better understood, reference is had to the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification.

In the drawing, Figure 1 is a rear end view of the chair, with parts in section; Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the chair with one of the wheels removed, and Fig. 3 is a plan view of an auxiliary wheel assembly.

Referring specifically to the drawing, a chair is shown at 5, the same being provided with back and arm rests as usual. The chair is supported by two large wheels 6 carried by an axle 7 which is geared to a motor 8, which latter may be an electric motor obtaining current from a storage battery 9. On the axle 7 is a worm wheel 10 which is in mesh with a worm 11 on the motor shaft. Any other drive gearing between the motor shaft and the axle may be provided.

Under the seat of the chair is mounted a box 12 which houses the motor 8 and the storage battery 9.

The chair is also provided with a steering wheel 13 carried by an upright stem 14 having a handle 15 at the top, said stem being suitably journaled in a bearing 15 carried frame members 16 mounted on the sides of the box 12. On the bottom of the chair seat are bearings 16 for the axle or shaft 7.

The wheels 6 are provided with hand rims 17 so that the chair may be propelled manually.

The frame members 16 have depending bracket arms 18 to which is pivoted, as

shown at 19, a support for a pair of auxiliary wheels 20 located to the rear of the chair. This support is in the shape of a fork 21 to the branches of which the wheels 20 are journaled.

From the frame members 16 also depend bracket arms 22 which converge beneath the box 12 and have pivoted to their lower ends, as shown at 23, a foot lever 21 provided with a pedal 25 at its forward end. The rear end of this lever carries a pin 26 which seats loosely in a slot 27 in the forward end of the supporting member 21, whereby a loose connection is provided between said member and the foot lever. A spring 28 is connected to the rear end of the lever 24, said spring being anchored to the bottom of the box, and having a tendency to draw this end of the lever upward.

The purpose of the auxiliary wheels 20 and the foot lever 24 is to assist the chair over rough places, as when it leaves the curbstone upon crossing a street. The wheels 20 are normally not in contact with the pavement, but when the large propelling wheels 6 drop into a rut, the auxiliary wheels strike the pavement and serve as a shock absorber, and when the large wheels leave the curbstone in crossing a street, the spring 28, assisted by the pressure of the feet on the lever 24, prevents violent shock to the chair. The large wheels can be gradually let down off the curbstone by having the wheels 20 come down in contact with the pavement as the large wheels leave the same, when pressure with the foot on the lever 24, in conjunction with the spring 28, will prevent'the large wheels from striking the ground hard enough to jar the chair. The hand rims 17 are used to assist in raising the chair on the opposite side of the street to the pavement.

While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been shown and described, it will be understood that various changes and modifications may be made without a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed hereinafter.

I claim:

1. The combination with a wheeled chair; of an auxiliary wheel located to the rear of the chair, a support for said wheel carried by the chair and pivoted intermediate its ends, and a foot lever carried by the chair and pivoted intermediate its ends, said lever having a connection at one end with the aforesaid support, and extending at its other end forwardlyto terminate in front of the chair.

2. The combinationwith a Wheeled chair 5 of an auxiliary Wheel located to the rear oi the chair, a support for said Wheel carried by the chair and pivoted intermediate its ends, a foot lever carried by the chair and pivoted intermediate its ends, said lever having a connection at one end With the afore- 10 said support, and extending at its other forwardly to terminate in front of the chair, and a cushioning element associated With the lever.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature. 15

FAY M. \VOLF F. 

